Reprobation Teaching

Today we are going to be discussing the doctrine of Reprobation. John Calvin described reprobation as a dreadful decree and indeed it is. However, it is Biblical and as such ought not to be avoided. I will be bringing up various other theological terms that may be unfamiliar. Due to this I provided a paper with the definitions for you to refer back to at any time during this teaching. Let us begin with a definition of Reprobation.

Louis Berkhof in his systematic theology defines reprobation as follows:

“Reprobation may be defined as that eternal decree of God whereby He has determined to pass some men by with the operations of His special grace, and to punish them for their sins, to the manifestation of His justice.”

I provide a simpler definition in the paper I handed out which says Reprobation is God’s decree to not save certain people and to punish them for their sins instead. Throughout this teaching I will be using the term Reprobate. This refers to the people who are passed by. In other words, the reprobate are the non-elect. Now, from the definition of Reprobation it is clear that there are two aspects of Reprobation. These aspects are called Preterition and Condemnation.

Preterition is the passing by of the non-elect or the reprobate

Condemnation is the determination to punish the reprobate for their sins.

Those of you familiar with systematic theology may have grasped by now that I am arguing for what is called “Double Predestination”. Double Predestination means God decrees the salvation of the elect and the damnation of the reprobate but in such a way that He actively works faith in the elect and permits the reprobate to chase their sin into Hell. Sadly, many people, even those who call themselves Reformed, reject this view. They do so because they completely misunderstand what the doctrine actually teaches. I remember going to chapel during one of my visits to Southeastern Seminary. One of the professors was preaching. He was doing a good job until he claimed double predestination was unbiblical. I think he said something to the effect of “God doesn’t force people to go to Hell”. Afterwards we went back to class and the teacher asked what we thought of the sermon. Now, I'm a Bachelors student in a class with Masters degree students so I'm a little nervous. But like a good cage stage Calvinist I raised my hand and offered my critique.  I said “It was a good sermon except he confused double predestination with equal ultimacy”. I then went on to explain the difference as I will do now.

I have defined equal ultimacy in the paper I gave you. Equal Ultimacy teaches that God works equally to get the elect in heaven and to keep the reprobate out of heaven. In other words, Equal ultimacy says that God works faith in the elect and unbelief in the reprobate. The professor wasn’t objecting to double predestination; he was objecting to equal ultimacy. Please notice that when I defined double predestination I said that God permits or allows the reprobate to chase their sin into Hell. Notice that when I defined reprobation I said that God passes by the nonelect. He doesn’t work unbelief into the heart of man. Men being totally depraved rebellious sinners won’t believe the Gospel. God doesn’t need to work unbelief in the reprobate's heart. He merely gives them what they want. So, please understand that I am affirming double predestination and reprobation. I am not affirming equal ultimacy.

Well, now that I have defined reprobation and clarified what I mean by that let's get into a more detailed discussion of the topic.

There will be 4 parts to this teaching. 

- First, The Reprobate’s Potter

- Second, Reprobation Proof’s 

- Third, Reprobations Purpose

- Fourth, Reprobation Protestations‍‍

The Reprobate’s Potter

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

God is Creator and can do what He wants with His creation. He created it, He owns it, it belongs to Him. So whatever He desires to do, we must accept. As the great hymn says "Whatever my God ordains is right.

Psalm 115:3
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 135:6
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

These verses show that God is God and He is going to do what He pleases. But we must make sure to qualify this. An Arminian will say that God does whatever He pleases. Although they say that it pleased God to limit His sovereignty so that there could be libertarian free will (That is a free will undetermined by anything). Basically they are saying it pleases God not to do all that He pleases because He does what man pleases which really makes the verse make no sense. The Bible doesn't portray God's sovereignty as being limited in any way. No, as established in previous weeks; He controls all things.

Daniel 2:21
“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.‍‍‍

‍Isaiah 45:7
I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

A more biblical Arminian could amen these verses I suppose. They would say “Sure God may cause all those things. But He would never violate man’s free will”.  Really? Well tell that to King Nebuchadnezzer. God punished him and basically turned him into an animal. Homeboy was out there eating grass with the cows! But Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson and listen to what he says in the end:

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
    and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
    and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
    or say to him, “What have you done?”

God doesn’t limit His sovereignty He controls ALL THINGS!!! That includes the salvation of the elect and the reprobation of the non-elect. Now, let me prove it. 

Reprobation’s Proof

There are two types of proofs that we will look at. First, the implicit texts and then the explicit texts.

Implicit Texts

Ephesians 1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

 This text teaches that God works all things according to the counsel of his will. So, first, what does all things exclude? Nothing. So, that doesn’t exclude people going to Hell. God works that according to the counsel of His will. To make it plainer, this text teaches that if anything happens, it is a part of God's eternal plan. So, if people go to Hell and they do, then that is a part of God’s plan. 

Isa 46:9-10
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

Notice, God declares the end from the beginning. This means that from the beginning God can foretell what is going to occur because His counsel shall stand and He will accomplish His purpose. In other words, God foreknows what is going to occur because He has decreed what will occur. So, this text isn’t merely saying that God can prophesy the future. This is saying that at the beginning of time God spoke and decreed what was going to occur. So, that would include the damnation of the reprobate. Notice the connection there between God’s foreknowledge (what He knows will occur) and His decree (His counsel, His purpose). There can be no foreknowledge without an exhaustive decree. Let me put it another way, Everyone agrees that before time began God already knew what was going to occur in time. And if God perfectly foreknows everything that will occur then that shows that the future is fixed. And if the future is fixed then it must have been fixed by the only one who existed at the time. Therefore, there must be an eternal decree. 

And if there is an eternal decree then everything that will occur has already been predetermined. And if everything (including the damnation of the nonelect) has been predetermined then reprobation must be true.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:9 speaking to those trusting in Christ in the church at Thessalonica Paul says 

1 Thessalonians 5:9 

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Obviously implying some are destined for wrath. 

John 17:12
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

This text clearly teaches Judas was reprobate. He is the son of destruction referred to in the passage. Notice why Judas was lost. So that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. In other words, Judas' betrayal was already a part of God's plan. 

Explicit Statements in Scripture

Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

This refers to the reprobate or “The wicked” being created for the ultimate day of trouble which is the final judgment. God created the wicked for the very purpose of glorifying Himself in their destruction. Now again, let me reiterate. This isn't equal ultimacy. God decreed for the condemnation of the reprobate but He doesn't force them to be evil. You may wonder how that is possible. My answer, though unsatisfactory to some, would be an Active and Passive Decree.

The Active Decree refers to things that God has determined which He takes an active role in or causes to happen.

The Passive Decree refers to things that God has determined that He permits or allows to happen through the agency of free creatures.

So, in regards to the decree to damn the reprobate the decree is passive. It is still 100 percent guaranteed that the reprobate will go to Hell because it has been predestined. However, that predestinating decree was done in a way that permits the reprobate to follow their evil desires. God doesn't force the reprobate to be evil as an Active Decree would necessitate. U may ask how it is possible that God can decree the acts of His creatures and yet they still be free. And I say the secret things belong to the LORD. He is omnipotent and can predestine an event while still permitting the agency of free creatures. (I will discuss more on what it means for man to be free in a couple of weeks). 

Jude 1:4 ESV — For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This text teaches that the false teachers described in Jude were long ago designated for condemnation. Notice the word designated. In the Greek that comes from the root word pro-grapho which literally translated is before written. pro-before grapho- to write. Why did Jude use this word which means written before? I think that Jude was referring to the OT illustration of God being the author of our life. 

Psalm. 139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Job 14:4-5
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one. Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,

God determines our days. He is the Author and He writes the book of our life before we are ever born. That's what this text is saying. Jude is saying that God opened up the book of the false teachers' lives and before they were even born He penned every wicked decision and deed which would culminate in their destruction. I would once again like to clarify that He does so in a way that the creature freely makes the decisions and deeds which lead to their destruction. 

Romans 9

The final Proof is found in Romans 9 and quite honestly this is the only proof needed because it is as plain as day. I wanted to cover all of Romans 9 but for the sake of time let's start in verse 13. So far Paul has shown that God chose Isaac and not Ishamel. He then says that God chose Jacob over Esau. 

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

So, notice we have election (Jacob) and reprobation (Esau). Jacob gets mercy, Esau gets justice. 

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Paul says this isn't unjust. God can save who He wants and reprobate who He wants. It's ultimately not up to us, it's up to God.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Think about the first born Egyptian sons who died because Pharaoh wouldn't let Israel free. Think of all the soldiers that were drowned in the Red Sea because of Pharaoh's refusal to repent. 

But this text says that God raised Pharaoh up and hardened his heart so that His name would be proclaimed in all the Earth. In other words, all of that happened according to God's plan to glorify Himself. 

So, the election, the reprobation, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart all for God's Glory. 

Paul anticipates the objection that is going to arise: He says: 

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”

20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

Notice the complaint. That's not fair. They are acting in accordance with God's decree so why are they punished? 

2 answers are given: 

1. Who are you mere sinful human to question God? 
2. God is God and He can do what He wants with His creation. 

And here is the key text I wanted to get to. 

21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 

23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Now notice there is one lump of clay. Now, this lump of clay is taken and separated into elect or vessels of mercy and reprobate or vessels of wrath. God decides who is saved and isn't and He has every right to do so because He is the potter and we are the clay.

A question you may find yourself asking is: Is this lump of clay neutral or sinful? This gets into the lapsarian debate. This debate refers to the logical order of the decree that took place in God's mind. This isn't temporal, this is logical.

Supralapsarianism says God decreed who would be saved and who would be reprobate BEFORE He decreed the fall.

Infralapsarianism says God decreed who would be saved and who would be reprobate AFTER He decreed the fall. 

 I believe Infralapsarianism is correct. I believe that God decreed who would and wouldn't be saved after He ordained to permit the fall. In other words, the lump of clay is a sinful lump of clay. A.W. Pink agrees saying "Clay is an appropriate substance to represent fallen humanity because it is lifeless matter." You may be wondering why I would even bring up such a vague concept. And I do so because I believe that infralapsarianism more adequately expresses the character of God. I believe infralapsarianism makes the Active and Passive aspect of the Decree, which I discussed earlier, possible defending God from any accusation of being the Author of evil.

We've seen the reprobates potter

We've seen reprobations proof

Now let's look at reprobation's purpose. 

Reprobation’s Purpose

Reprobation's purpose is twofold. It is for God's Glory and our good. Look back at verse 23. There is one lump of clay. And it's separated into Elect and Reprobate and God reprobates some v. 23 says "in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—" So, He reprobates to reveal the riches of His glory to the Elect. 

Furthermore, He reprobates because the graciousness of election shines infinitely brighter amidst the backdrop of reprobation. It is done so that we appreciate the glory of His mercy that much more because we know that we deserve to be in Hell with them. ‍

The second part of God's sovereignty said that the exercising of His Sovereignty is Merciful, Loving, and Gracious. 

You may be thinking "how in the world is reprobation merciful, loving, and gracious?" Well, think about it this way: God is the Most Magnificent Being ever. God being Merciful, Loving, and Gracious reveals Himself to His creation. And He does so in a way that eternally displays the full range of His attributes. He eternally displays His Love, Mercy, and Graciousness to us by saving the elect and He eternally displays His Justice, Anger, and Wrath by damning the reprobate. And since God truly is the Most Magnificent Being ever, one of the most loving things God can do for His elect is to reveal the full range of His attributes so that we can more fully know Him. 

Another purpose of reprobation is found in

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So, for those who love God (the called according to His purpose) a.k.a. The Elect, all things work together for good. What does all things exclude? Nothing, right? So, that means the damnation of the wicked will work out for the good of God’s elect. But how can this be possible? Many of our friends and family members are not elect and one day they will die and go to Hell. How can that work out for our good? 

Other than the previously mentioned answers, I don't know. I just don't know. The idea is painful and I can tell you that I spent much time this week as I prepared, in tears over this very concept. But we have to trust that God is good, that the King of all the earth will do right, and that all things work together for our good even through something as difficult as this. Our brains can probably contain .000001 percent of all the knowledge in the world. Of course we can't conceive how God can use reprobation for good. But God knows all. And we must trust that in His eternal Wisdom, He knows how to bring good out of Reprobation.‍

Reprobation’s Protestations

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

So people will say "See God is not willing that any should perish so reprobation can't be true."

There are two answers to this: 

First, it says God is patient toward "YOU". If you trace back the pronouns He is speaking to the elect. So, this us saying that Jesus hasn't returned yet because He is patient towards (YOU) the elect not wishing that any of (YOU) the elect should perish but all should come to repentance. 

The second response is that God has two wills. A revealed will and decreetive will. God's revealed will commands all men everywhere to repent and His decreetive will determines who will repent. So, this text refers to the general call of the Gospel which is God's genuine desire that all people would repent even though He decrees otherwise. I can't believe in reprobation because a loving God wouldn't save so few. Really? Of all the people to make that objection to you wanna make that objection to me? *Insert unnecessarily long Postmill argument here* In all seriousness though this argument presupposes that God owes men grace and that isn't the case. 

The Bible teaches that God will save a number that is like the stars in heaven and sands on the seashore. That's a lot of people! Revelation teaches us that the number of the elect is too large to count! In fact, I believe that God will save more than He reprobates. Spurgeon, who didn't hold to my particular eschatology said the same "It is my firm belief that the number of the saved will be far greater than that of the damned" (“Law and Grace,” #37, delivered August 26, 1855).

There are more objections that I would love to get to but we are out of time. If you have any questions or objections feel free to discuss them with me afterward. Let me end with this quote from Pink. "Finally, let us insert this necessary caution: It is absolutely impossible for any of us, during this present life, to know who are among the reprobate. We must not judge any man this way, no matter how wicked he may be. The most vile sinner, may, for all we know, be among the elect and be quickened by the Spirit of Grace one day."